Canada announces CAD 10 million in funding to accelerate climate adaptation planning and action in developing countries
The Canadian government has announced that it will provide CAD 10 million in funding for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network to support developing countries in accelerating their efforts to build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced the funding today at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) during the COP26 Africa Adaptation Acceleration Summit.
“It is about climate change as people experience it on their doorsteps … it’s about how human beings can achieve a decent quality of life in the face of unprecedented climatic upheaval. We’re here at COP to ensure that adaptation reaches the people who need it the most, where they need it the most,” said Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada during remarks at the COP26 Africa Adaptation Acceleration Summit.
This funding responds to calls from developing countries, including Small Island Developing States and least-developed countries, for increased financial support in climate adaptation to prepare for and reduce their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
The NAP Global Network was established in 2014 to support developing countries in advancing their national adaptation planning and implementation, in turn progressing climate change adaptation efforts around the world.
"We are thrilled to welcome the Government of Canada's renewed support for the National Adaptation Plan Global Network to help developing countries prepare for climate impacts and achieve a sustainable future," says Anne Hammill, senior director of the Resilience Program at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which hosts the NAP Global Network Secretariat. "Through NAP processes, countries are accelerating efforts to put adaptation at the heart of decision making and secure a prosperous future in a changing climate."
This funding builds on a previous CAD 4 million commitment by the Canadian government to the NAP Global Network to provide support to Small Island Developing States and sub-Saharan African countries with a focus on using adaptation to promote gender equality.
The new funding will, among other types of support:
- Provide technical support to countries in putting adaptation at the heart of decision making, prioritizing the most vulnerable
- Engage civil society more directly in adaptation planning and action, working with women’s movements, Indigenous communities, and others
- Build communities of peer support, including to enhance women’s leadership.
The NAP Global Network is a multi-funder initiative, and Canada’s investment builds on more than CAD 12 million in financing from Austria, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States to scale up support for NAP processes as a critical tool in the efforts to build resilience to climate change.
There has been significant progress this year in developing countries' NAP processes. The UN reported last week that 129 of the 154 developing countries have NAP processes underway, and 30 developing countries have submitted NAPs to the UNFCCC.
"The Canadian government's generous financial support will allow the NAP Global Network to increase its support to countries that need it most," says Hammill.
This announcement demonstrates a critical commitment to strengthening adaptation governance in the Global South, enabling countries to translate their ambitions into action.
About IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 250 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.
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